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Anyway, quick, since Schindler's List, name your favorite Ben Kingsley flick? Species? What Planet Are You From? Rules of Engagement? It would seem Mr. Kingsley was either staying out of the limelight, or waiting for a role he could seriously kick some ass in. Now, here it is, and our friend Gandhi even just earned an Oscar nomination for his efforts. Guess there is some justice in Hollywood after all?

Sexy Beast is definitely not for everyone, and most definitely not for those who cringe at an F-word ratio that would offend even Andrew Dice Clay. But each and every performer here is at the top of their craft, especially Kingsley. He plays Don Logan, who is somewhat of a maniac, and along with his pal Gal, has been involved in various criminal activities. Of course Gal, played splendidly by Ray Winstone, is retired and trying to make an honest living in Spain. But Don has one more job to offer Gal, and he won't take "no" for an answer.

That's about all I feel I can mention without spoiling what comes next, besides truckloads of profanity, a bit of violence, and no sex (well, maybe a little.) But if you think you've seen this before, well, it's nothing you would expect. Sexy Beast is an analogy, one used not only for for sex but as aggressively descriptive of the predatory nature of the characters, a weapon they use to manipulate and hold their prey at bay.

Sexy Beast is a powerful film. An imaginative film. A film that, at times, can hardly be stomached, and at others is amazing to behold. With a killer soundtrack, inventive camerawork and beautiful locations, Sexy Beast is a rare creature found in today's cinema. Don't miss it.

Video: How Does The Disc Look?

Fox Searchlight delivers Sexy Beast to DVD with a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer (mislabeled 1.85:1 on the package), and it's pretty darn good. There are a few reels that are a bit scratchy, especially for such a new film, but it is hardly a detracting factor. Colors are supremely well rendered, as saturation is dead on with no smearing or noise. Fleshtones are true and consistent. Blacks are usually quite solid, but in the occasionally grainy result in murky shadow delineation. There is a minimal amount of edge enhancement that really only causes a very small amount of trouble in a few scenes with dark backgrounds, and compression artifacts are minimal. Overall, this is a very crisp and pleasantly watchable transfer.

Audio: How Does the Disc Sound?

Fox has included two Dolby Digital mixes on this disc: a 5.1 track and a Dolby 2.0 surround mix. While the 2.0 mix is fine, if at all possible check out the full out 448 kbps 5.1 mix. The surround use here is most impressive. From the subtle yet complex integration of the score to the fantastically localized sound effects and pans. I must admit I didn't expect this aggressive of a mix. The separation of the front soundstage is also outstanding, as dialogue is perfectly centered unless it is panned in from one of the other channels, and left to right effect shifts are nearly seamless. And the LFE channel gets a real workout, too. The score and the songs get nicely bottom- heavy and a few effects rely heavily on tight thumping. While perhaps not quite a reference mix, this one is a real winner.

Also are English and Spanish subtitles and English Closed Captions.

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

Of course, what well-rounded disc wouldn't be complete without a tea sifter full of extras? Fox has put together a few goodies for this release, but unfortunately they aren't as spectacular as one might hope for.

First up we have a screen-specific audio commentary that I had high expectations for. Ben Kingsley and producer Jeremy Thomas sat down with what seems like little to no preparation. They spend more time explaining why their jokes are funny than commenting on any interesting things on the screen. It is extraordinarily screen specific, too much so, and you wish they would just explain themselves or add something to the film, but they don't. This is a bad commentary.

Next up is a merely average making-of featurette, presented in non-anamorphic widescreen. It's pretty short at 6 minutes and is mainly comprised of EPK chats with the actors and filmmakers. The director does have some interesting ideas but it's too bad we don't get to hear from him as much as we do from everyone else. A very basic featurette that like most poor EPKs, functions merely as an extended commercial.

Last but not least are a gaggle of theatrical trailers, including both the domestic and international versions of Sexy Beast's pretty damn good promo. Both are presented in full screen and stereo, but don't watch either of them before seeing the film, as they reveal too much. Also included is a ten-second International TV spot that's neat but short. Finally, there are three more Fox Flix trailers for Supertroopers, Waking Life and The Deep End. All are in non-anamorphic widescreen.

DVD-ROM Exclusives: What do you get when you pop the disc in your PC?

No ROM extras have been included.

Parting Thoughts